17 01N 61 47W
Osprey
John Bowering
Wed 2 Jan 2008 11:35
We arrived in Antigua at about 1430 to find that there was a major tall ships race taking place off the entry to the port - in those wind and sea condition they were having an exciting time that was not either for me or the fainthearted. We dodged around them and dropped anchor off the Yacht Club where the wind was still howling so that John could go ashore and clear customs. This took about and hour an a half but they were their usual amicable selves - the office there only deals with yachts so they are pretty good at it. Next came a trip to the Cat Club where Helen kindly gave us an alongside berth so we did not have to de rig the davits for a stern to mooring. We had some fun getting the anchor in at the anchorage which was suddenly very crowded as the "racers" finished their exercises and came into the harbour. Berthed at the Cat club by 1730 by which time we were feeling the early start and the long day. Anita being Anita however we were shortly in the local bar where we stayed with the live band until Anita fell asleep at 2300. We went back to the boat and watched the fireworks and the new year from there. New years day was a late start and we spent the day cleaning the salt off the topsides - re stowing the main, which had not furled properly the day before and generally putting away all the ocean passage equipment like the safety nets off the guard rails.